A couple of other pieces of information might help explain the insane rules proposed by the NC Department of Labor to control airborne infectious disease emergencies in the workplace. I had posted about this matter a couple of days ago.
The following information is found on the Department of Labor website:
NCDOL received two rulemaking petitions regarding infectious diseases. One applies to Migrant Housing and the other applies to General Industry/Construction/Agricultural employers in North Carolina. NCDOL is publishing a Notice of Text of the proposed rules as the result of the rule-making petitions.
- The Petition for an infectious disease rule regarding General Industry/Construction employers was submitted by: Episcopal Farmworker Ministry; North Carolina State AFL-CIO; Union of Southern Service Workers; Western North Carolina Workers’ Center; the Hispanic Liaison of Chatham County/El Vinculo Hispano; and the North Carolina Conference of the NAACP. The original petition is available upon request.
- The Petition for a rule regarding Agricultural Employers and Migrant Housing Operators in relation to Infectious Diseases was submitted by: Episcopal Farmworker Ministry; North Carolina State AFL-CIO; Western North Carolina Workers Center; the Hispanic Liaison of Chatham County/El Vinculo Hispano; and the North Carolina Conference of the NAACP. The original is available upon request.
The Notices of Text of both petitioned rules were published in Volume 38, Issue 13 of the North Carolina Register on January 2, 2024. Publication of the two petitions by NCDOL in no way intends to imply an endorsement of either by the Commissioner of Labor.
And Jon Hardister, who is running for Labor Commissioner, had the following press release:
Hardister also had the following comments:
“Several left-wing interest groups submitted petitions to the NC Department of Labor trying to create new regulations for infectious diseases. The proposed regulations triggered the “Rules Review” process, allowing public comments to be made. I have made it clear that I am against these regulations, which would mandate masks, social distancing, and obligatory equipment acquisition for small businesses across our state.
“Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson stated in a press release that the adherence to the rule making process is in no way an endorsement of the proposed rules. At the end of the comment period on the proposed rules, Commissioner Dobson can accept the rules, reject the rules, or send them back for review. I have faith and trust in Commissioner Dobson and believe that he will ultimately make the right decision in this matter.“
Unless something changes it appears that those rules are DOA.
I hope so, Fred. I hope Dobson will do the right thing.